I'm a little more than halfway through Bill Ballantine's book Clown Alley. I can't believe I've never read it before. Bill was the dean of clown college in the early years, and helped the school develop into what it became. Highly reccommend it.

Anyone else read this book or featured in it?

-Brian

Hey Brian~
Clown Alley is one of my favorite books. I got it when it first came out several years ago. Great stories about the beginnings of Clown College. I especially enjoy the stories about Ringling clowning back in the 1940's when Bill Ballantine was a member of the clown alley.
Great illustrations by him, too!
Thanks for reminding me to pull it off my shelves for another read!
Sandy

I've been trying to buy this on eBay for a long time. The last time I lost the bid by .51 cents in the very last seconds of the bidding - to slow at the keyboard to win!! It is one of the few books that I want that I don't own. If y'all want to part with your copy let me know - LOL. I do have "Wild Tigers & Tamed Fleas" by Ballantine. It also is an interesting read.

Cap'n Mike
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Met Bill Ballantine once....in Winter Quarters I believe. It's been years since I read the book. The first time was while on the Blue Unit. If memory serves me it was a fairly accurate depiction of life in the alley.

You might also enjoy Wild Tigers and Tame Fleas also by Mr Ballantine and Tiger Tiger by Charlie Baumann. Charlie had INMHO the best tiger act. Gunther rocked the horses but I also liked Charlie's cat act better.

-Brian..heard anything re: China?

Kevin

Hi, Cap'n Mike; I'm a big believer in book sharing, but this one's not mine to share. It belongs to my clown partner Matthew. He found it in a used book shop in San Fran last year. Check out auctionsniper.com to help with your ebay purchases, though.

Hi, Kevin; never heard of the Tiger Tiger book. I'll check that out. And I've heard a bunch of things about China...all to be PM'd.

-Brian

I just got finished reading Water for Elephants...OK I know it is really a love story but it takes place at a circus and it was a good read. I even cried at the end.

How about Ringmaster? I forget them name of the guy who wrote it. A supposed expose of life on Ringling.

Kevin

I read "Water for the Elephants" last summer and enjoyed it. I think "Ringmaster" is by Kristopher Antekeier. I've got it somewhere here. Quite a supposed 'tell-all' book about life on the Big Show. I think it did accurately tell the story of Management releasing Uncle Soapy just prior to his retirement though, if I recall both accounts clearly (which I don't ... the 70's were quite good to me).

Brian - thanks for your offer to share if could, I appreciate it. I'll find my own copy some day ...

Aloha-ha,
Cap'n Mike
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MMMMMM Ringling Politics......on the next Jerry Springer.......Don't get me wrong the beast know as Feld Entertainment is great at what it does......but that being said there's a whole 'nother can of worms that takes place at the show level...if you've been there you know what I mean...don't get me wrong I loved my experience on TGSOE but I do have a semi-bitter taste in my mouth left over!

That is pie car coffeee that left that bitter taste. Be careful what you say the walls have ears.........

Kevin

I am currently hanging out on the Gold show, no real Pie car, so no bitter tastes here.

All these books are a great read.
As a kid in Memphis (not the wealth of clowning) All I had was waiting impatiently for the shrine date, and Ringling to come through town. I would go to the library and check out everything they had.
I would read clown alley cover to cover,over and over again savoring every word like it would be the last time I would ever read again, staring at the drawings of the faces trying to figure out who was who, one of which is a good friend and fellow Memphian Sandy "K." Kozik.
It sat next to my bed like bible next to a preacher's, a steady reminder of the path I wanted to take.

When I was in my middle teens I received a copy of "ringmaster" I found it ok (not enough about the clowns) Around the same time a Circus Circus Casino was built here, so I got to here all the great back stories from Dana Nelson who worked there.

I was real lucky the year and half before I went to Ringling, I was on tour with a show called Royal Palace (it was a little armory mud show, moved everyday)
but one of the coolest parts was the fact that the owners wife was Stephine Chapman, Danny Chapman's daughter, and she read/photocopy the coolest thing.
Danny Chapman's original booklet to Irving tell him what a clown college should be, written in 1965. (3 years before clown college!

and that my friends is another story for another day, cause I probably boring the poop out of you right now .

Larry

Please say hi to Jon & Laura and the family from Brownie and his family. I,m going to Chris Allisn's this weekend to see Tom and Tammy Parrish..and Ted Ferlo...and Chris Shelton and maybe Jay Stewart. (Other guests to be named later)

Are you working on the gold?

Kevin

What a party that will be, take pictures!

Yes, I start doing the Advance for the Gold again next week ( Little Rock Ark, Duluth Ga,...)

*warning there be spoilers ahead*
The Weiss' have it great on the Gold but they are moving to the Blue, Jonny will be the new All Access Preshow/Adventure host!
Also moving to the Blue will be Tom Dougherty as the headliner!

Where are you based out of Kevin?

Larry

I'm in Tom Dougherty's hometown of Frederick MD

Ditto that, "Hey there", from me. Jon and I clowned on the Red together with Chris and Gina, Tom and Tam worked the Blue with my brother and sister, Joel & Lara. Shelton and I wore Big Red Shoes doing corporate clowning around the same time and Jay Stewart owes me $20 (just kidding - he owes me $10). Ted and I met somewhere along the way, too.

Cap'n Mike
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Cap'n Mike-

Thanks for helping me put all the pieces together. I worked an ill-fated cruise ship clown show with your brother in law.

Back in NYC, but still on AK time...

Brian

Sure, Brian. I remember Mikey telling me about that 'trip' but I didn't recall who all was part of that clambake. I don't believe you and I have ever met however you're on that list of folks I've 'met' on this forum that I'd like to 'shake hands with' someday soon.

Be Good,
Aloha-ha,
Cap'n Mike
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